Vacuum cleaners



y 8, 1952 I w. D. BURCH 3,032,955

VACUUM CLEANERS Filed June 7, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 WILLIE DEE BURCH V EN TOR.

AT TORNEKS May 8, 1962 3 Sheets-$heet 2 June 7, 1956 Filed WILLIE DEE BURCH INVENTOR.

A TTORNEVS W. D. BURCH VACUUM CLEANERS May 8, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 June Filed FIG. 3

WILLIE DEE BURCH INVENTOR.

A T TORNEVS 3,3Z,955 Patented May 8, 19 62 ,032, VACUUM CLEANERS wllll Dee Burch, 113 NW. 13th St,

I Oklahoma City, Okla. Filed June 7,1956, Ser. No. 52:0,044 1 Claim. or. 55 472 This invention relates to improvements in vacuum cleaners.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a durable, compact and etlicient vacuum cleaning machine n which the arrangement of dust bag and suction means is such that there will be very little pull of air through the dust and dirt collected in the dust bag, thereby maintaming a constant suction through the bag until it is full of, debris.

A further object of this invention is the'provision of an improved power plant for vacuum cleaners with a very compact and powerful motor assemblage and fan or impeller means which will maintain a constant air discharge therefrom for the purpose of creating an efiicient air travel through the housing thereof.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a vacuum cleaner of a very compact type which combines the functional advantages of both tank and upright types of vacuum cleaners in its ability to pick up lint, ravellings, sand and grit from a rug or carpet, through the thickness thereof, without damage to the nap of the rug or carpet, and with which it is only necessary to make a few passes over any predetermined section of the rug or carpet to be cleaned, thereby resulting in economy of operation of the machine and saving wear and tear upon the lugs or carpets being cleaned.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved vacuum cleaner the parts of which are so assembled as to be readily accessible for replacement, cleaning and inspection.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved vacuum type cleaner having an improved valve arrangement for controlling the passage of air therethrough'for either vacuum or blower uses.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is showna preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved vacuum machine showing the exterior thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross section view taken through the improved machine showing the arrangement of parts thereof.

FIGURES 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are transverse cross sectional views taken substantially on the respective lines shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings through the various parts of the vacuum cleaner, and at different levels, and showing relativestructural features thereof.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of one of the fans of the invention, showing its structural arrangement of parts,

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic view ofthe wiring a1- rangement of the multiple motor assembly.

FIGURE l0 is a transverse cross sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of- FIGURE 2 and more particularly showing the housing and its dust bag arrangement in a transverse plane.

7 FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing a modified form of fan construction.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,-the letter A may generally designate the vacuum cleaner, which can also be operated as a blower. It includesta casingor housing' construction B; a dust collect- United States atentOfitiee ing assemblage C, and a motor and fan assemblage D.

Referring to the casing or housing construction B, the same includes a lower or base section 15 and an upper section 16. Section 15 is provided with an imperforate bottom wall 17 and upstanding walls 18, 13*", 18 and 18,- in right angled relation therewith; the upstanding walls being polygonally arranged, although it is possible to make the upstanding wall construction cylindrical if so desired.

The upper section 16 includes four upstanding walls 19, 19 19 and 19 which are complementary to the walls 18, 18 18 and 18 respectively. The upper margins of the walls 18, 18%, 18 and 18' are inset as shown at 21 in FIGURE 2 of the drawings to provide a reduced width for receiving the lower marginal portions of the upper section walls 19, 19 19 and 19, as shown in FIGURE 2. The upper and lower sections 15 and 16 are hingedly connected together at 23. This hinge extends horizontally across and is connected to the walls 18 and 19 in order that the top section 16 may be tilted upon the wall 18 to open the chamber 24 of the lower section 15.

The upper housing section 16 has a chamber 25 therein adapted to receive various details to be hereinafter set forth. This chamber 25 is closed at its top by a removable closure construction 26. A gasket 27 may be mounted upon the marginal portion of the housingsection 16 for sealing the flange connection of the closure 26 therewith. The top 26 may be completely removable and secured by screws 2'6 threaded in brackets 26" of the section16.

About midway of the height of the section 16 itis provided with a series of ports 27, in the same horizontal plane. These are exhaust ports or ductsfor exit of air when the machine is used as a vacuum cleaner. On the wall 1% a central larger duct 28 is provided in the same plane as the ports 27. This is intended to receive a blower hose or conduit 30, such as indicated in dotted lines in FIGURE 2 when themachine is to be used as a blower.

The machine housing B may be mounted upon suitable caster wheel structures 31, as shownin the drawing and it may have a surrounding rubber guard rail 185. The closure Stimay be provided with a handle 32 on the top thereof to' facilitate lifting of the machine. The walls 18 and 19 may be provided with a suitable lock or latch mechanism 35, shown in FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings. The external wall 18 may be provided with suitable hooks or means 36 to support various attachments such as are furnished with vacuum cleaners.

Referring to the improved dust collecting assembly C, I preferably provide an inwardly flanged shelf 38" welded or otherwise secured in the chamber 24 of the lower section 15 inwardly from the top edges of the upstanding walls thereof. It may have anannula'r. series of openings 39 therethrough, such as shown in FIGURE 2 for air flow exteriorly from the dust bag arrangement upwardly into the chamber 25 of the upper housing section 16, as indicated by certain of the arrows shown in FIGURE 2. The inner portion of this shelf 38 defines a lower offset seat 38 'adapted to serve as asupport for a porous cloth bag 40 which depends into the chamber 24. This cloth bag 40 may have a' reinforced rim portion 4-1 at the top marginalwalls thereof which rests upon the seat 38*. This rim 41' may be clamped in position upon the rim 38 by means of marginal portions of a porous closure 42. The closure 421s hingedly connected at 43 upon the flange 38' and at its free end it is held down, as will be subsequently described, against the rim 41, for holding the cloth bag 44) in depending relation in said chamber 24, as shown in FIGURE 2.

A porous paper disposalbag-45 is placed in the bag-40 below the porous closure lid 42. r

A. tubular nozzle 47 is connected in an opening? inthe wall 18 of the housing structure, as shown in FIG- URE 2, extending transversely through the chamber 24 at the top thereof; its innermost end 47 being upturned so the passageway 48 of the nozzle will deflect the air flow against the roof portion 45 of the bag 45, to serve as a cleaning means therefor.

It is well known that with present day vacuum cleaners the dust bag pores become clogged before the bag is filled with dirt. Mainly this is due to the cylindrical or circular chamber shapes of such dust bags. I propose to avoid this by polygonally shaping the bags 40 and 45. That is the adjacent walls thereof are in right angled relation, as is shown in FIGURE of the drawings. Thus, the compartment within the bag 45 is polygonally shaped in cross section and provides corners at which the dust, dirt and debris will stop and drop into the bottom corners of the bag. The air inflow of the passageway 48 is also directed against the under surface of the wall 45* of the disposable dust bag, insuring the cleaning thereof. Because the bag compartment is square or polygonally shaped there will be a turbulence and whirling of the stream of air within the pocket that will insure stoppage of the dust, dirt and other debris at the bends of the bag and collect in the bottom corners. The dust and dirt will collect and pile upwardly in the bag without clogging the pores of the bag until the entire disposal bag 45 is filled with dust and other debris.

The upper housing section 16 is provided with a bottorn motor and fan assemblage base wall 50, welded or otherwise secured upon the inner surfaces of walls 19, 19 19 and 19, spaced above the bottom edging of said walls; the said base wall 50 being spaced above the porous closure 42. Centrally the wall 50 is provided with a motor supporting depending inset seat 53, preferably round. On its underside the wall 50 has a filter supporting bracket 55 which detachably supports a round disc type filter 56, spaced slightly above the porous closure wall 42.

The porous closure wall 42 at its free end is held closed by a foot flange 58 which depends from and is connected to the wall 50.

Referring to the motor and fan assemblage D the same has been provided to give a powerful air flow through the machine A for vacuum or blower purposes. Generally it consists of multiple motors 60 and 61 having a common vertically positioned driven shaft 62. The lower and upper fans 63 and 64 are connected to the ends of the shaft 62 on opposite sides of the motors.

I provide a unique frame structure for supporting the motors and fans as a detachable unit. It consists of a base wall 65 having a bearing 66 centrally thereof within which the shaft 62 is journaled. A cylindrical upstanding wall structure 66 rests centrally upon the top of the wall 65 defining a compartment 67 wherein the motors 60 and 61 are disposed. A top wall 69 is provided for this compartment 67; the walls 65 and 69 being connected together by tension bolts 70. The wall 69 is provided with a central bearing 71 for the upper end of the shaft 62.

The housing for the lower fan 63 is supported by the wall 65 therebelow, and the housing for the upper fan 64 is supported by the top wall structure 69 thereabove. Within these housings the fans 63 and 64 rotate; being respectively keyed as shown at 75 and 76 to the opposite ends of the motor driven shaft 62.

The fans 63 and 64 are substantially duplicates, having a novel arrangement of parts which will enable them to develop and maintain air flow pressure which is discharged with a powerful force. Each of these fans 63 and 64 comprises spaced top and bottom walls 80 and 81; the top wall 80 of fan 63 including a central horizontal portion-82 through which the shaft extends. Its outer portion 83 is upwardly flared. The lower wall 81 constitutes an upwardly tapered plate spaced from the wall 80 with a gradually decreasing depth from the central portion of said walls and 81 towards the outer peripheries thereof. The lower wall 80 is provided with a central round opening 85 therein. These walls 80 and 81 have fixedly connected therewith propeller blades which are curved, with their concave sides facing the direction of rotation of the fans. The blades 90 are so relatively spaced that the passageways 91 therebetween gradually increase in width from the central portion of the fan hub 92 outwardly to the outer peripheral edging of the fan. Thus, the blades 90 diverge with respect to each other from the axis of the fan to the outer peripheral edging thereof. Additionally each blade 90 decreases in depth from the central or axial portion of the fan outwardly to the outer peripheral edging of the fan. Thereby the spaces or compartments 91 between the blades have a gradual decrease in depth from the central portion of the fan towards the outer peripheral margin of the fan. The tapered shape of the blades and the passageways therebetween steadies the pressure in the fan all the way along the ducts or spaces 91. Pressure is built up at the central portion of the fan without loss of compression as the air travels along the duct. Thus, I have a fan able to produce a greater quantity and force in the air stream. The force of air travel through the fan is never in a straight line. I have found that ordinary vacuum cleaner fans produce from 12 to 80 pounds of suction on an inch of a Waterlift gauge whereas the suction or pull with my fan is substantially 160 pounds.

The housing construction for the lower fan 63 comprises spacer type supporting bolts attached to the wall 65 for supporting the top housing wall 101 which conforms to the shape of the fan wall 80 and is slightly spaced therefrom. The bottom housing Wall 102 conforms to the shape of and is parallel to the wall 81 of the fan. The wall 102 extends marginally beyond the outer peripheral edging of the fan 63, as is shown at 104 in FIGURE 2 of the drawings and is connected by means of spacer sleeves and bolts 105 to the outer marginal portion of the base wall 65. An annular closure Wall 106 is provided between the wall 65 and the lower wall portion 104 for deflecting air travel into the motor housing.

Centrally the wall 102 is provided with 2. depending hub portion 110 extending into a seat 111 provided upon wall 50 for the assembly D. A sealing ring 111 is pro vided externally upon the hub 110 upon which the assembly D rests. Thereby the air travel will be directly through opening 112 and into the fan structure 63.

Referring to the upper fan structure housing the same includes a bottom wall which is rigid with the wall 69, and extends upwardly in upwardly divergent relation, spaced slightly from the lower wall 81 to the upper fan '64, as shown in FIGURE 2. An upper wall 121 forms the top of the housing structure for the upper fan, being peripherally connected to the wall 120 by spacer sleeves and bolts 122.

Centering means is provided for the housing assembly of the fans and motors, comprising an upwardly extending hub or sleeve portion 125 rigid with the wall 121. It receives therein a screw threaded centering bolt 126; the head of which may be socketed within the gasket or other bushing 127 seated within a depending flange 128 upon the cover wall 26.

The suction of air caused by the fans passes through the passageway 48 of the nozzle 47, sucking the dust, debris and dirt into the inner porous disposable bag 45. The air then passes through the top wall of the bag 45; through the porous cover 42; through the filter 56; into the passageway 112 and through the opening 85 in the lower wall of the lower fan 63. It is deflected laterally by the fan blade arrangement and passes, as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 2, outwardly and then upwardly and inwardly and enters the motor housing. It passes through the opening 85 of the upper fan 64. The upper fan 64 deflects the air laterally and outwardly through the periphery thereof and thence the air travels downwardly as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 2 and exists through the port openings 27.

The motors 60 and 61 are in axial alignment, each of the same including an armature 130 keyed to the shaft 62. The armatures turn in the same direction. Each armature 130 is provided with two field coils 131, wound like ordinary electric motors, except that they are oppositely wired in order to make them turn the armature shaft in the same direction. The commutators 132 for the motors 60 and 61 are each provided with dual brush assemblages 133; all of these parts being located in the chamber or compartment 67 of the motor housing.

The wires 135 for the motors are indicated in FIGURE 2, and comprise a single circuit which has separate leads to the two sets of field coils and the respective commutator brushes. The circuit includes a switch 136, also shown in FIGURE 2, and a plug 137 for plug in with a 110 volt system.

Inasmuch as the vacuum cleaner may not only be used as such but also as a blower I provide an improved valve arrangement for controlling air flow. It includes a cylindrical shaped interliner 140 defining a cylindrical compartment 141. It has an upper flange 142 for seating against a gasket 143 carried by the cover 26. The interliner at its lower end is provided with a flange foot 144 for seating against a sealing gasket 145 carried by the inner peripheral margin of the wall 50 and facing the compartment 25. This interliner and its supporting structure are removable form the main housing section 16 of the machine A.

A valve arrangement is provided for controlling air flow which includes a ring shaped valve member 150 supported at its upper and lower edges by means of brackets seats 151 and 152. Valve ring 150 is provided with ports or openings 155 therein of a number which matches an annular arrangement of similar ports 156 in the liner 140. The valve ring 150 is moved by means of a handle 160 attached thereto. It extends through a slot 161 in the wall 19 of the upper section 16 of the housing. As is shown in FIGURE 5 of the drawings, the knob or handle 160 is positioned so as to communicate the ports 155 and 156 (when the machine is being used as a vacuum cleaner). The travel of the air will then be from the outer peripheral portion of the upper fan 64 downwardly through the chamber 140 of the interliner and through the ports 155 and 156 and thence into the chamber of the upper housing section 16 and finally out of the ports 27.

When the machine is to be used as a blower the ports 156 will be closed. When the handle 160 is moved to the opposite side of the slot 161, as indicated by the dotted position in FIGURE 5 the ports 155 are closed off. A section of the valve ring 150 closes off the blower nozzle duct 160 provided in the liner 140 as indicated in FIGURE 5. Thus, when the ports 155 and 156 are opened to each other for use of the machine as a vacuum cleaner, the port 160 is closed. However, when the valve ring is slid to close the ports 156, an opening 161 therein will communicate with the duct or port 160. Then the operator may insert the blower hose or nozzle as indicated in the dotted line position of FIGURE 2.

I may provide means to prevent circular swirling of the air as it exits into the chamber 140 of the interliner from the fan 64. To that end I provide a series of radially positioned and relatively spaced vanes 170, between the housing walls 120* and 121 (see FIG. 11). Thus the air coming from the fan channels 91 will be radially deflected outward into the interliner compartment.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that an improved vacuum cleaner has been provided which is very compact and efficient in operation and one which has a suction strength far beyond the capacity of commercial household vacuum cleaners, due to the improved motor and fan assemblage. Because of the opposed arrangement of motor and fan assemblages and the means for mounting the same there will be smooth operation of the machine and absence of vibrations; the stresses and strains being divided evenly between the upper and lower bearings. The motor rating of this assemblage is substantially equivalent to twice the normal horsepower rating of a conventional household vacuum cleaner.

As is shown in FIGURE 1 a closure plug may be connected by a chain 181 to the housing exteriorly upon the wall 18 for closing the passageway through the nozzle 47.

The use of a plurality of portholes on each side of the casing, instead of the use of one large exhaust opening, will cut down the noise of air exhaust appreciably. The vacuum cleaner will also run much quieter while cleaning the home and due to the splitting up of exhaust air the blowing power will be appreciably less, thereby eliminating blowing of curtains, drapes, table scarfs, etc. while cleaning the home.

While a multiple motor has been shown, in fact it constitutes but one motor because of the common shaft connection.

Various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claim.

I claim:

A vacuum cleaner comprising a housing having a chamber therein, a transverse wall connected to the housing within the chamber dividing the chamber into a lower compartment and an upper compartment, a porous cloth type bag removably supported by said housing in the lower compartment, a porous disposable dust bag mounted within the porous cloth type bag, means for admitting air from externally of the housing into the porous disposable dust bag, a porous closure mounted within the housing above said bags and defining an opening for suction of air therethrough from said bags, said transverse wall in the housing having an air passageway centrally therein, a removably filter between the porous closure and the air passageway in said transverse wall, a removable impeller fan and motor assemblage mounted upon said transverse wall within the upper part of the compartment of said housing for sucking air through said air passageway, and a removable closure for the top of the housing for the closing of its compartment, said removable closure having means thereon releasably connected to the fan and motor assemblage for centering the position of said assemblage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,049,729 Kaiser Ian. 7, 1913 1,064,412 White June 10, 1913 1,921,085 Korittke Aug. 8, 1933 2,025,946 Wenner-Gren Dec. 31, 1935 2,064,587 Carlstedt Dec. 15, 1936 2,226,630 McCord Dec. 31, 1940 2,277,069 Burwell Mar. 24, 1942 2,380,382 Baker July 31, 1945 2,539,195 Lang Jan. 23, 1951 2,540,178 Smith Feb. 6, 1951 2,597,690 Wied May 20, 1952 2,658,665 Tschudy Nov. 10, 1953 2,672,949 Hage Mar. 23, 1954 2,682,317 Lampe June 29, 1954 2,721,625 Lagerstrom Oct. 25, 1955 2,779,432 Meyerhoefer Jan. 29, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 482,262 France Dec. 12, 1916 

